Fact Check: Trump Orders National Parks to Erase Negative Historical Language
What We Know
The claim that President Trump ordered national parks to erase negative historical language is substantiated by multiple reports detailing directives from the Trump administration. Following an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” the Interior Department initiated a process to remove or cover any content deemed “inappropriate” or “negative” regarding past or living Americans. This directive included soliciting feedback from visitors at national parks to identify such content (source-1, source-2).
The National Park Service (NPS) was instructed to post signs and QR codes at parks asking visitors to report any signage that they felt did not emphasize American grandeur or that negatively portrayed historical figures or events. By September 17, 2025, the plan was to remove or cover all flagged content (source-2, source-5).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from credible news sources that reported on the directives issued by the Trump administration. For instance, the New York Times and Los Angeles Times both confirmed that the NPS was directed to solicit public feedback on signage that could be considered negative, with the intention of altering or removing such content.
Critics, including historians and park advocates, expressed concern that this initiative could lead to the erasure of significant historical narratives, particularly those involving marginalized groups and critical events in American history (source-1, source-8). The National Parks Conservation Association condemned the initiative as an affront to historical accuracy and an attempt to sanitize American history (source-1).
Visitor responses collected by the NPS indicated a strong opposition to the idea of erasing historical facts, with many calling it a form of censorship (source-1). This public backlash further supports the claim that the administration's actions were perceived as an attempt to alter historical narratives.
Conclusion
The claim that President Trump ordered national parks to erase negative historical language is True. The directives from the Trump administration to the National Park Service, along with the solicited public feedback for identifying and removing negative content, clearly demonstrate an intent to revise how American history is presented in national parks. The responses from visitors and the concerns raised by historians reinforce the notion that this initiative is aimed at sanitizing historical narratives.
